Yukon River canoe trips – Carmacks to Dawson

Departures

July 20th to 31st 2026 – 8 spots left

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Paddle the legendary Yukon River from Carmacks to Dawson City on a multi-day canoe adventure through quiet wilderness and timeless landscapes. This route follows historic currents once used by First Nations travellers and gold seekers, offering pristine campsites, wildlife sightings and long, peaceful days on the water.

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La découverte du sud du Yukon en compagnie d'Amélie et de Juliette s'est avérée être une expérience incroyable, empreinte de bonne humeur, de générosité et de convivialité.

Claude Fleury September 26, 2025
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I did the Coastal Mountains Trek and it was truly one of the best experiences of my life. This trek takes you into some of the most gorgeous nature you can find on this planet. On top of that - Terre Boreale is an incredible company. Our guide (Amelie) was amazing and they thought of every detail. The food was delicious (hot zucchini and feta pasta after a long day hike… what is better!!) and we are already looking forward to our next trip. If you are considering a trek in the Yukon, I can’t recommend Terre Boreale enough.

Molly White September 14, 2025
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Nous avons vécu une expérience incroyable sur la Yukon River, 13 jours de descente en canoë entre Whitehorse et Dawson City, seuls dans la nature accompagnés de nos deux guides Juliette et Amélie. Le groupe s'est incroyablement bien entendu, les moments difficiles sont passés tous seuls. L'organisation, l'intendance, tout a fonctionné à merveille, toujours avec respect pour l'environnement. Nos deux guides n'ont jamais varié d'humeur, toujours partantes quelques soient les conditions climatiques, s'adaptant constamment. La préparation avec Miléna n'a posé aucun problème, bien au contraire, toujours de bon conseil. Les paysages grandioses infinis du Yukon et la météo ont été au rendez-vous ainsi que les animaux : ours, rapaces, loutres, castors, chèvres sauvages, etc. Je rajouterai une mention spéciale pour la visite de Fort Selkirk. Enfin la cuisine a été incroyable : 14 jours sans ravitaillement mais en ne mangeant que du frais cuit au feu de bois. Il y aura vraiment un avant et un après Yukon !

Kodiak VD August 27, 2025
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Kluane et le Donjek en 2023, Kluane, Tombstone et Dawson en 2025. Deux expériences extraordinaires avec Terre Boréale. Organisation, soutien, professionnalisme, encadrement, le tout en respectant la nature intacte et sauvage des lieux visités et du Yukon en général. Je recommande cette entreprise pour le Yukon.

maryse guedat August 14, 2025
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We hiked to Donjek Trail this summer and had an amazing experience with Terre Boréale. A challenging and demanding trek, offering amazing views of the rugged Yukon landscape and nature. Our guides Amelie and Chloe were extremely knowledgeable and experienced, making this the unique adventure we had hoped for.

Simon Roethlisberger August 10, 2025
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Donjek 2025

Unbelievable experience hiking to the Donjek and back. As a more novice backpacker, I truly appreciated the expertise and professionalism of the two guides. Both women were prepared, knowledgeable, and just all around fantastic human beings. This was an extreme trip (as the website clearly states) and I felt safe and confident in the abilities and decisions of the guides. Whether it was crossing paths with a grizzly or a steep mountain pass, both guides led the group with their expertise and passion for the Yukon backcountry. Every detail was planned with care and compassion. I truly appreciated Terre Borale’s commitment to the environment. The “leave no trace” principle was strictly adhered to throughout the trip. All around amazing experience.

sarahpE6275QZ August 8, 2025
tripadvisor

Donjek Glacier

As an experienced hiker it was very interesting to see new kind of hiking techniques and methods. But all good. The route and itinerary was obviously planned with knowledge and experience. There was always plan B as you never know what nature and off trail hiking throws at you. Have to admit that it was physically tough as "Extreme" should be but extremely rewarding and immemorial. We were lucky with the weather as it plays enormous factor in outdoor activity. Guides were simply super women! Speechless after the effort they did. We had nice group and a trip to remember for the rest of our lives!

328mjk August 1, 2025
google

We hiked the Kluane Colors Tour guided by Edouard and we absolutely loved everything about it! What Terre Boreale offers is not to be compared with any other Tour agency at least from my experience. For both the owners and the employees you can tell that they live their values, they love what they do and they are so happy to pass it on to their customers. In our case we were a small group of three plus our guide Edouard. Ed was super knowledgeable, skilled and fun - so very easy to trust him in all decisions around the trek. We felt in very good hands all along and we had lots of fun together as a team! The trek itself is just stunning! We enjoyed breathtaking views and untouched landscapes. All of the logistics around it were also perfectly done - shout out to Milena for the super friendly communication ahead of the trip and the delicious food which is homemade by her! All in all this trip surpassed our expectations (which were already high) by far! We will have to come back at some point…

Lisa Deb July 18, 2025
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Merci énormément à Chloé et Maéva, nos deux guides exceptionnelles sur Otter Island. Elles nous ont permis d'avoir un séjour incroyable de détente. Que dire de la nourriture, c'était super bon!!

Maryssa Lessard February 27, 2025
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Hiked the "Into the Coast Mountains" tour. small group, great guides (even as an english-only speaker in a french group) and mind blowing terrain and scenery. We saw all the animals i wanted and hiked to our heart's content. great tour, great food, love the focus on minimizing every impact. fantastic company can't wait to go on a canoe trip.

Feet Banks January 3, 2025
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Me and 5 mates had a wonderful 12 day canoe trip that was beyond my expectations in every respect. Our guides Marc and Ed are highly skilled in the art guiding but the food they prepared was the standout - we ate like kings! Kudos to them and the Terre Boreale team for everything that went into delivering a great experience. The 5 stars is barely enough!!

Alan Nowland October 16, 2024
google

My husband and I spent a week in July backpacking the Kluane Colours route off trail in Kluane National Park. We had a great group and got lucky with the weather which always helps. The scenery surpassed all expectations and I'd put it in the world-class category. I figured off trail would require a lot of "bushwacking" but other than an hour or two of nasty alders one day, the route traversed open country. What a treat to experience a place where few people have trod.

Leigh McAdam October 15, 2024

Yukon River canoe trip itinerary

Upon arrival in Whitehorse, you take the free shuttle to get to your hotel (right there when you exit the terminal). Note that we always try and book hotels which offers the free shuttle but in case there is no more availability, there are always taxis available to drive you downtown (count approximately $25 for a ride from the airport to your hotel). Depending on your arrival time, you will have time to explore Whitehorse and take a stroll on the Millennium Trail or check out the MacBride Museum.

A pre-trip meeting takes place in the lobby of your hotel at 5pm today with your guides. This is the perfect opportunity to ask any last-minute questions about your Yukon canoeing adventure, do a gear check and meet your fellow adventurers!

Check our FAQ to know what date day 0 corresponds to.

Night in a hotel in Whitehorse

We start our adventure with a scenic drive from Whitehorse to Carmacks, enjoying the northern landscapes as excitement builds. Once at the river, we load the canoes and set off on the first gentle stretches of the Yukon River. In the evening, we gather around the campfire and enjoy a hearty, locally-inspired meal prepared with care, a perfect start to our journey.

Lunch and dinner

Night in a tent

Over the next several days, we paddle deep into the heart of the Yukon, following the river’s current and immersing ourselves in the wild beauty of the north. One of the highlights are the Five Finger Rapids, where four rocky islands split the river into five channels, only the far eastern “finger” is safe to navigate, just as river travelers have done since the gold rush.

We also stop at Fort Selkirk, a historic site at the confluence of the Pelly and Yukon Rivers. Here, we step into the stories of the Northern Tutchone people and early traders, exploring restored buildings that reveal centuries of culture and life along the river.

Each day, we camp in pristine locations, gather around the fire, and enjoy our carefully crafted meals using fresh, local ingredients, from warming stews to cinnamon buns, making each evening as memorable as the paddling itself. Wildlife sightings and tranquil river moments fill the days in between.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Night in a tent

We paddle into Dawson City, the legendary heart of the Klondike Gold Rush. After a satisfying day on the river, we check into a comfortable hotel and enjoy a well-earned hot shower. In the evening you get the chance to wander through Dawson City historic streets and you can even a step in the oldest casino in Canada, the Diamond Tooth Gerties.

Breakfast and lunch

Night in a hotel

After breakfast, we  drive back to Whitehorse, sharing stories of the river, the wildlife we encountered, and the memorable meals that nourished us along the way. Our journey ends with the calm satisfaction of having experienced the Yukon in a truly immersive way.

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Night in a hotel

Connection to the airport or to your next adventure!

After breakfast, we load the canoes and drive back to Whitehorse, sharing stories of the river, the wildlife we encountered, and the memorable meals that nourished us along the way. Our journey ends with the calm satisfaction of having experienced the Yukon in a truly immersive way.

Terre Boréale respectfully acknowledges that this adventure takes place on the traditional territories of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Selkirk First Nation, Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.

  • Ground transportation for Whitehorse/Carmacks and Dawson/Whitehorse
  • Meals as indicated in itinerary above
  • Accommodations as indicated in itinerary above, based on double occupancy (+ $400 for single occupancy)
  • The following equipment: tent, canoe, paddles, life jacket, dry bag, bear spray, bear proof canister, cooking gear and fishing gear
  • Bilingual guide French/English
  • Satellite phone for emergencies
  • Single occupancy supplement of $400
  • Activities while in Dawson
  • Airport transfers
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Gratuities
  • Fishing license
  • Domestic & International flights

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